Annual Notices

Notice

According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public notice to parents of children who reside within a school district is required regarding child find responsibilities. School districts (SDs), intermediate units (IUs) and charter schools (CSs) are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional information related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular entitled Implementation of Chapter 15. Also, school districts are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted services via 22 Pa Code Chapter 16. For additional information regarding gifted services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student is both gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence.

This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate unit and charter school of the child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this public notice, each school district, intermediate unit and charter school shall publish written information in the handbook and on the web site. Children ages three through twenty one can be eligible for special education programs and services. If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact the appropriate school district or charter school identified at the end of this public notice.

Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental delays and, as a result, need Special Education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child who is less than the age of beginners and at least 3 years of age and is considered to have a developmental delay when one of the following exists:

1. The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25% of the child’s chronological age in one or more developmental areas.
2. The child is delayed in one or more of the developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean of standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional and self-help.

Screening and Risk Factors

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit supports school districts in providing a free, appropriate public education to eligible students. To qualify as an eligible student, the child must be of school age, in need of specially designed instruction and meet the eligibility criteria for one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities, as set forth in the Pennsylvania State Regulations: Specific Learning Disability, Emotionally Disturbed, Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Blindness/Visual Impairment, Deaf-blindness, Deafness, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Neurological Impairment, Other Health Impairment and Speech and Language Impairment. Information regarding the appropriate developmental milestone descriptors for infants and toddlers may be found at the CDC website or The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) website at Parent Center Hub. Identification activities are performed to find a child who is suspected as having a disability that would interfere with his or her learning unless special education programs and services are made available. These activities are sometimes called screening activities. The activities may vary from district to district but can include: review of group data, conducting hearing and vision screening, assessment of student’s academic functioning, observation of the student displaying difficulty in behavior and determining the student’s response to attempted remediation. Input from parents is also an information source for identification. After a child is identified as a child with a possible disability, he or she is evaluated, but not before parents give permission for their child to be evaluated.

Evaluation Process

Each school district, intermediate unit and charter school has a procedure in place by which parents can request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school, which your child attends. Telephone numbers and addresses can be found at the end of this notice. Parents of preschool age children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to the intermediate unit.

Consent

School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of the parents. For additional information related to consent, please refer the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be found at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network website. Once written parental consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense.

Program Development

Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professional and parents determine whether the child is eligible. If the child is eligible, the individualized education program team meets, develops the program, and determines the educational placement. Once the IEP team develops the program and determines the education placement, school district staff, intermediate unit staff, or charter school staff will issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice. Your written consent is required before initial services can be provided. The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial placement.

Confidentiality of Information

The School Districts, Intermediate Units and Charter Schools maintain records concerning all children enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities. All records are maintained in the strictest confidentiality. Your consent, or consent of an eligible child who has reached the age of majority under State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21. Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. One official at each participating agency must assume responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information. Each participating agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and positions of those employees within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information.

For additional information related to student records, the parent can refer to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation and screening activities and rights and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents. For more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child contact the responsible school entity listed below. For preschool children, information, screenings, and requested evaluations may be obtained by contacting the Intermediate Unit:

Allegheny Intermediate Unit
475 East Waterfront Drive
Homestead, PA 15120
412-394-5700

Allegheny Valley School District is committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for district students. The Board recognizes that bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning and may lead to more serious violence. Therefore, the Board prohibits bullying by district students.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 249

In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, the EPA requires the District to perform reinspections of asbestos materials every three years. The results of the reinspections are on file in the School District at the Facilities Department office as part of the asbestos management plan.

The Board recognizes that the abuse of controlled substances is a serious problem with legal, physical and social implications for the whole school community.

The Board supports the administration and district staff in their commitment to effectively coordinate the efforts of the school district with those of the community, family and law enforcement agencies to educate, prevent, and intervene in the abuse of controlled substances by its student population. To accomplish this goal, the district shall provide for the adoption of a coordinated curriculum, community involvement, cooperation with appropriate agencies and the implementation of student assistance programs.

If based on the student's behavior, medical symptoms, vital signs or other observable factors, the building principal has reasonable suspicion that the student is under the influence of a controlled substance, the student may be required to submit to drug or alcohol testing. The testing may include but is not limited to the analysis of blood, urine, saliva, or the administration of a Breathalyzer test.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 227

Allegheny Valley School District shall enroll school-age students eligible to attend District schools in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Board policy, and administrative procedures. The Superintendent or designee shall annually notify students, parents/guardians and staff about the district’s admissions policy by publishing such policy in the student handbook, parent newsletters, district website and other efficient methods. The Superintendent or designee shall develop and disseminate administrative regulations for the enrollment of eligible students in district schools.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 200

The Board recognizes that students require adequate, nourishing food and beverages in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. The Board directs that students shall be provided with adequate space and time to eat meals during the school day.

The food service program shall be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as well as federal guidelines established by the Child Nutrition Division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The district shall ensure that, in the operation of the food service program, no student, staff member, or other individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.

Food sold by the school may be purchased by students and district employees but only for consumption on school premises. The price charged to students shall be established annually by the district in compliance with state and federal laws.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 808

Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Please remember that you must reapply for free/reduced meals every year, regardless if you were eligible the previous year. There is no deadline for submission of free/reduced applications; you may apply at any time throughout the school year. 

During the 2026–27 School Year, all schools participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are to provide free breakfasts for all enrolled students. Additionally, students identified as eligible for reduced-price lunches through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will not be charged for their meals. 

Applications are processed using a PA access card number. Pennsylvania has reiterated that medical assistance alone will not qualify a family for free meals.  The district will need to verify (on a PA website) that families applying receive food stamps or cash benefits, and not just medical assistance.

Free & Reduced Price Meal Application

Additionally, COMPASS provides an easy, convenient, and confidential application for free and reduced meals. 

Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, all school districts are responsible for identifying students experiencing homelessness and connecting them with the resources needed to ensure academic success.

For additional details, please review our Homeless Status Notification webpage.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 251

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (Statue: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h; Regulations: 34 CFR Part 98) applies to programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). PPRA is intended to protect the rights of parents and students in two ways:

1. It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors make instructional materials available for inspection by parent(s)/guardians(s) if those materials will be used in connection with an ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation in which their children participate; and
2. It seeks to ensure that schools and contractors obtain written parental consent before minor students are required to participate in any ED-funded survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight protected areas:
   • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s family;
   • Mental or psychological problems of the student or his/her family;
   • Sex behavior or attitudes;
   • Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
   • Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
   • Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
   • Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent(s)/guardian(s); or
   • Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Parent(s)/guardian(s) or students who believe their rights under PPRA may have been violated may file a complaint with ED by writing the Family Policy Compliance Office. Complaints must contain specific allegations of fact giving reasonable cause to believe that a violation of PPRA occurred.

For additional information, contact the Family Compliance Office online or by phone at 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327). Parent(s)/guardian(s) who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

The Board requires district employees, independent contractors, and volunteers to comply with identification and reporting requirements for suspected child abuse, as well as the training requirement for recognition and reporting of child abuse in order to comply with the Child Protective Services Law and the School Code.

More Details: AVSD Board Policy 806

The Board recognizes the importance of public records as the record of the district's actions and the repository of information about this district. These public records will be made available for access and duplication to the public, who has the right to request them, with certain exceptions, subject to law, Board policy, and Administrative Regulations.  

A written request for access to a public record shall be submitted on the required form(s) and addressed to the Open Records Officer. Written requests may be submitted to the district in person, by mail to a designated facsimile machine, or to a designated email address. Upon receipt of a written request for access to a record, the Open Records Officer shall determine if the requested record is a public record and if the district has possession, custody, or control of that record, and respond as promptly as possible under the existing circumstances.

The initial response shall grant access to the requested record; deny access to the requested record; partially grant and partially deny access to the requested record; notify the requester of the need for an extension of time to fully respond; or request more detail from the requester to clearly identify the requested material.

More information and forms can be found on our Right to Know webpage.

The Board acknowledges the need to respect the rights of students to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures while fulfilling the district’s interest in protecting and preserving the health, safety and welfare of the school population, enforcing rules of conduct, and maintaining an appropriate atmosphere conducive to learning.

School officials have the authority to lawfully search students or their belongings, including lockers, automobiles, electronic devices, purses, backpacks, clothing, and other possessions, without a warrant, when in school, on school grounds or when otherwise under school supervision, if there is a reasonable suspicion that the place or thing to be searched contains prohibited contraband, material that would pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the school population, or evidence that there has been a violation of the law, Board policy, or school rules. The scope and extent of searches must be reasonable in relation to the nature of the suspected evidence, contraband or dangerous material and to the grounds for suspecting that it may be found in the place or thing being searched.

The district has a compelling interest in protecting and preserving the health, safety and welfare of the school population, which under certain circumstances may warrant general or random searches of students and their lockers, vehicles or other belongings without individualized suspicion, for the purpose of finding or preventing entry onto school property of controlled substances, weapons or other dangerous materials.

The Board authorizes the administration to conduct searches of students or their belongings, including lockers, automobiles, electronic devices, purses, backpacks, clothing, and other possessions in accordance with the standards set forth in this policy.

The Superintendent or designee, in consultation with the district solicitor, shall develop guidelines and procedures to implement this policy, and shall ensure that school staff who are involved in carrying out searches or determining when searches will be conducted receive appropriate periodic training about such procedures and currently applicable legal standards.

Students, parents/guardians and staff shall be notified at least annually, or more often if deemed appropriate by administration, about the standards and procedures in effect pursuant to this policy.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 226

The Board recognizes that student conduct is closely related to learning. An effective educational program requires a safe and orderly school environment.

The Board shall establish fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rules and regulations regarding the conduct of all students in the district.

The Board shall adopt a Code of Student Conduct to govern student discipline, and students shall not be subject to disciplinary action because of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin or handicap/disability. Each student must adhere to Board policies and the Code of Student Conduct governing student discipline.

The Board prohibits the use of corporal punishment by district staff to discipline students for violations of Board policies, the Code of Student Conduct and district rules and regulations.

Any student disciplined by a district employee shall have the right to be informed of the nature of the infraction and the applicable rule or rules violated.

When suspensions and expulsions are imposed, they shall be carried out in accordance with Board policy.

In the case of a student with a disability, including a student for whom an evaluation is pending, the district shall take all steps required to comply with state and federal laws and regulations, the procedures set forth in the memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement and Board policies.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 218

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires the Allegheny Valley School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. To learn more, please review our FERPA webage.

More details on student records: AVSD Board Policy 216

The Board recognizes that tobacco and vaping products, including the product marketed as Juul and other electronic cigarettes, present a health and safety hazard that can have serious consequences for users, nonusers and the school environment. The purpose of this policy is to prohibit student possession, use, purchase and sale of tobacco and vaping products, including Juuls and other electronic cigarettes.

More Details: AVSD Board Policy 222

Act 18 of 2019 amended the Public School Code of 1949 by adding Article XIII-E, Threat Assessment. Among its provisions, Article XIII-E requires the establishment of threat assessment teams for all school entities in Pennsylvania and tasks the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) to research, develop and provide free threat assessment guidelines, training and informational materials, as well as model procedures and guidelines for school entities.

The Board directs the Superintendent or designee, in consultation with the School Safety and Security Coordinator, to establish a threat assessment team and develop procedures for assessing and intervening with students whose behavior may indicate a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, school facilities, the community and others. The district shall annually notify students, staff and parents/guardians about the existence and purpose of the threat assessment team through posting information on the district website, publishing in handbooks and through other appropriate methods.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 236.1

The use of video and audio recording equipment supports efforts to maintain discipline and to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, contractors and others being transported on district-owned, operated, or contracted school buses or school vehicles. The Board authorizes the use of video and audio recording on school buses and school vehicles for disciplinary and security purposes.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 810.2

The Board is committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its students and the school community. This policy supports the provision of a comprehensive district program designed to promote behavioral health and prevent suicide.

The Board directs the district to provide education on youth suicide awareness and prevention; to establish methods of prevention, intervention, and response to suicide attempt or suicide death; and to promote access to suicide awareness and prevention resources.

The district shall notify employees, students, and parents/guardians of this policy and shall post the policy on the district’s website.

More details: AVSD Board Policy 819